The Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) has invited applications for admission to a total of 783 seats for undergraduate medical and nursing courses for the academic session 2026-27 under the Ward of Insured Person (Ward of IP) quota.

The admission is available exclusively for the dependent children of workers covered under the ESI scheme, reflecting the ESIC’s continued commitment towards extending meaningful social security and educational benefits to the families of insured workers across the country, the Ministry of Labour and Employment said in a statement on Friday.

A total of 783 seats have been provisionally earmarked under the Ward of IP quota for the academic session 2026-27, comprising 695 MBBS seats, 28 BDS seats and 60 B.Sc. Nursing seats across 22 medical, dental and nursing institutions, as per the Ministry. Students admitted under the quota are required to pay an annual tuition fee of only ₹24,000 for MBBS and BDS courses and ₹10,000 for B.Sc. Nursing courses, making quality medical education accessible and affordable for beneficiaries of the ESI Scheme. No capitation fee or donation is permitted for admission under this quota, the Ministry made it clear.

The last date for submission of online applications for the Ward of IP Certificate is June 21, 2026.

These colleges include ESIC Medical Colleges located in various states and select state government medical colleges where seats have been reserved for eligible children of insured persons. The admissions will be conducted through the centralised counselling process administered by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

To be eligible, the parent must be a registered Insured Person under the ESI Act and should have been an active contributor to the ESI Scheme as on September 30, 2025. The applicant must be a dependent child of the insured person, should have appeared in NEET (UG) 2026 and must satisfy the eligibility requirements prescribed by the National Medical Commission, Dental Council of India, Indian Nursing Council, National Testing Agency and Medical Counselling Committee. Male candidates should not be above 21 years of age as of March 8, 2026, while the age restriction is not applicable to dependent unmarried female children of insured persons in accordance with the provisions of the ESI Act, 1948.

Eligible candidates are required to obtain a valid Ward of IP Certificate issued by ESIC, which is mandatory for participation in the admission process. The entire application process for obtaining the certificate is online and can be completed through the ESIC portal. Applicants are required to submit the prescribed details and upload the necessary documents, including photographs, proof of age, NEET (UG) 2026 Admit Card and other relevant certificates, wherever applicable.

Published on June 5, 2026